The following is an
overview of human rights violations in Iran on February 7th, 2019 based on the
information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) More than four protests were organized across the country on February 7, 2019. Teachers and educators in Isfahan, the investors of Padideh Shandiz in Mashhad, the teachers of Esfarayen in the Ghazvin province, the workers of Karaj municipality, have held protests to request their demands.

(2) Two workers were injured in Gotvand city in Khuzestan province because of negligence in the oversight of safety conditions in their workplaces. Iran ranked 102 in the workplace safety among other countries.

(3) The CEO of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation confirmed that 50 million Iranians reported to live below the poverty line.

(4) Human Rights Watch announced that Iran’s authorities are violating fair trial standards in the case of eight environmentalists; “Iranian authorities should open a transparent investigation into the torture allegations the accused have raised during the trial.”

(5) Ehsan Karami was banned from appearing on Iran national television. He is a singer, actor, and television host.

(7) A number of Ahwazi Arab citizens were arrested by intelligence agents in Hamidiyeh in Ahvaz. Nabi Saedi, Ahmad Saedi, and Shahab Sayahi were arrested on Wednesday, February 6th. No further information was available on their location or the reason for their arrests.

(8) AbuBakr Rostami, a political prisoner on death row in Zahedan prison, began hunger strike after being transferred to the quarantine ward for an unknown reason. He was a medical student at Zabol University of Medical Sciences and spent the past three years in prison on the charges of “acting against national security by collaborating with anti-regime groups” and “Moharebeh” (enmity against God).

(9) A converted Christian, Sina Moloudian, was released on bail on Monday, February 4th. Iranian security officials raided his home and confiscating his belongings in Isfahan on January 23, 2019.

(10) Maryam Mombeini, the wife of Kavous Seyed-Emami, is still barred from leaving the country. Seyed-Emami was the Iranian-Canadian environmentalist who died in prison after being accused of spying.

(11) The Iranian government arrested, imprisoned or executed at least 860 journalists over 30 years frpm 1979 to 2009, according to documents leaked to Reporters Without Boarders (RSF) and at least four journalists were executed.

(12) More than 500 workers have been laid off in Ghazvin province while two workers of Pars Tire Company in Saveh were laid off after the wage protest.

(13) The Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, pardoned or reduce the sentences of a large number of convicts on the 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution which is commemorated in Iran.

(14) Five homeless people died of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in Fardis in Alborz province.

The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on January 29th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) More than nine protests were organized across the country. The truck drivers in Tehran, preschool teachers in Bagh-e Malek in Khuzestan province, the shareholders of Caspian financial institution in Mashhad and Rasht, several people with law degree in Tehran, the residents of Jalalabad, the truck drivers of Bojnourd Cement, the students of Academy of Gondishapur in Ahvaz, and the flood victims in Rafi city in Khuzestan province have held separate protests to request their demands.

(2) The security forces on Tuesday, arrested Saeed Sadeghifar in Ardabil. His and four other Turkic minority rights activists’ court was on January 24, on the charge of “establishing illegal groups with the intention to disturbing national security”.

(3) Jafar Azimzadeh and Parvin Mohammadi the leading member and the vice president of the Free Union of Workers in Iran , were arrested for unknown reasons. Their whereabouts are still unknown. Moreover, Azimzadeh and Shapour Ehsanirad have been acquitted of charges of “acting against national security” in June 2018. In 2016 he was sentenced to 17 years in prison over charges of “propaganda against the state” and “assembly and collusion against national security through organizing an illegal group’.

(4) Mohammad Khanifar, a Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company worker, was released on 500 million [approximately 50 thousand USD] bail. He was arrested on Sunday by the intelligence agents in Shush.

(5) Sunni Friday Prayer Leader, Molavi Mohammad Hossein Gorgij, was summoned and interrogated in the Special Clerical Court for seven hours on Monday. In July, he was banned from traveling when he was going to visit Iranshahr Friday prayer Leader about rapes of women in Iranshahr.

(6) Hadi Salehpour, a 29-year-old resident of Ahvaz, was arrested and transferred to the intelligence office detention center in Ahvaz, one and a half month ago. His condition is unknown.

(7) Alireza Moinian’s request of furlough was denied. He was serving his eight months sentence since December and legally, he should have been granted furlough on bail.

(8) A school vehicle crashed into a pickup truck which injured five students in Babolsar, Mazandaran province. They were transferred to the hospital in Babol.

(9) A school vehicle rolled over in Kabudarahang, Hamadan province. Two of the seven students on-board were injured and transferred to the hospital.

(10) Natural gas leakage, poisoned 25 students in a girls’ elementary school in Bam, Kerman province. A classroom heater’s gas leakage severely poisoned nine of the students. They were transferred to the hospital.

(11) The workers of Zarabad municipality in Sistan and Baluchestan province, have at least seven months unpaid wages.

(12) Mahmoud Naji ended his hunger strike after prison officials promise to fulfill his demands regarding his parole request. He went on a hunger strike for the same cause earlier on December 11, 2018 and ended it on December 25.

(13) Sina Moloudian, a Christian converted, was arrested by security forces in Isfahan and was transferred to an unknown place. His house was searched, and his belongings was confiscated.

(14) Namegh Deldel, a Sunni prisoner of conscience was returned to Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj from the intelligence detention center in Sanandaj. He is serving his sentence of six-year prison term, on the national security related charges.

(15) Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, the lawyer of two detained environmentalists reported that his clients were summoned to the court again. Five of the detained environmental activists were charged with “corruption on earth”. The environmentalists who were arrested last year are Houman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi, Taher Ghadirian, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Morad Tahbaz, Hasan Zareh, Aref Zareh, Morteza Aryanejad, Alireza Farhadzadeh, and Kavous Seyed Emami. Seyed Emami, an environmentalist and professor, was arrested as part of this crackdown and reportedly died in detention under unknown circumstances two weeks after his arrest.

The following is an
overview of human rights violations in Iran on January 9th, 2019 based on the
information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency
(HRANA).

(1) Matlab Ahmadian, a prisoner suffering from Orchitis (inflammation of testicles) and bladder infection, has been denied medical care for eight years. He was charged with ‘cooperation with an opposition Kurdish group’ and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in exile.

(2) Narges Mohammadi wrote a letter from prison to district attorney protesting the denial of her right to have a phone conversation with her children. She was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment on the charge of ‘acting against the national security and propaganda against the state’.

(3) Liza Tebyanian was exonerated in the appeal court. The appeal court denied accusations and added that according to the law promoting the Baha’i faith would not consider ‘propaganda against the state’.

(4) Abdolrazagh Rasoulpour and Hojat Razmjou, prisoners of Urmia prison, were beaten by intelligence officers yesterday. They were accused of ‘cooperation with Kurdish opposition groups’ and sentenced to five years imprisonment each.

(5) Namegh Deldel, a Sunni prisoner of conscience who was detained in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr Prison has been transferred to detention center in intelligence agency of Sanandaj for an unknown reason. He is serving his sentence of six years imprisonment being accused of national security related charges.

(6) Kianoush Salatini, a political prisoner, was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison on blasphemy related charges in connection with his social media activities.

(7) A prisoner who was accused of murder, was saved from execution after 11 years in prison in Yasuj. Another prisoner charged with murder was saved from gallows by victim’s family’s consent in Karaj.

(8) Nasrollah Lashani began his hunger strike on January 6 to protest being banned from having visitors. He is a Nationalist-Religious Activist who was accused of ‘propaganda against the state’ and sentenced to six years in prison.

(9) Ali Ghamsari, a musician, was banned from working and the rest of his concerts have been canceled because of featuring a female vocalist, Haleh Seyfizadeh in his concert. Women are prohibited from singing or playing musical instruments solo in Iran.

(10) A worker, Ali Jahantigh, was electrocuted to death in his workplace in Mehriz because of negligence in the oversight of safety conditions. Mehriz county is located in Yazd province.

(11) Mohammad Mahdavifar, a civil rights activist, who is serving his sentence of two years in prison, was sentenced to five years imprisonment and four years exile for his new blasphemy related charges.

(12) An open letter has been written by 20 lawyers to president Hassan Rouhani, about Loghman Vahid and other victims of landmine explosion. Vahid is a Kulbar who lost an eye and a leg due to landmine explosion and was sentenced to pay a fine.

(13) A Baha’i citizen, Moein Mohammadi, was arrested by the security forces for an unknown reason in Yazd. Moreover, Amir Hossein Mohammadifar and Sanaz Allahyari were arrested by the security forces and have been transferred to an unknown place. Also, Soroush Agahi and Neda Shabani are Baha’i citizens who have been arrested on November 30 in Karaj and were transferred to an unknown location. Their whereabouts are still unknown after 40 days.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – In the last few weeks, a number of prisoners across the country have declared hunger strike. HRANA has prepared a bulletin on their cases, previously reported in detail.

Nasrin Sotoudeh Lawyer and human rights activist

Nasrin Sotoudeh started a hunger strike on August 25th in protest to her arrest and the judicial pressures being placed on her family, relatives, and friends.
She published an open letter outlining her reasons for the strike.

Ramin Hossein Panahi Political prisoner

Sentenced to death, Ramin Hossein Panahi was recently transferred to Karaj’s Rajai Shahr Prison and declared hunger strike on August 27th by sewing his lips together. He is protesting his sentence and multiple violations of his legal rights. His lawyers published a statement sharing the reasons behind the strike. According to them, his whereabouts have been unknown since his August 26th transfer out of Rajai Shahr.

Farhad Meysami Civil rights activist

Farhad Meysami was arrested July 31st by security forces. He started a hunger strike August 1st, protesting his arrest and the constraints being placed on his choice of attorney. He was transferred from Evin’s Quarantine Ward to the General Ward on August 26th, where he is reportedly suffering from low blood pressure and drastic weight loss.

Namegh Deldel Prisoner of conscience

Sunni prisoner Namegh Deldel from hall 21, Ward 7 of Rajai Shahr Prison has been suffering from an injury to his right leg. In protest of his restricted access to medical care, including the prison’s refusal to transfer him to an outside hospital, he has been on hunger strike for more than a month.

Farhad Ariai (Sahrapeyma) Political prisoner

Farhad Ariai (Sahrapeyma), a political prisoner in the Workers’ Ward of Urmia Prison, is in the sixth year of his seven-year sentence. Eligible for early release per Article 134 on the serving of concurrent sentences, he declared hunger strike on August 15th when the court refused to review his request thereof. According to a credible source, Ariai was transferred to the quarantine ward immediately after starting his hunger strike.
Ariai also declared hunger strike last year when prison officials denied his request for furlough. In response to that strike, prison staff forcibly handcuffed and transferred him to the Workers’ Ward of the prison, where he remains to this day.

Seyed Ghassem Abasteh Prisoner of conscience

Seyed Ghassem Abasteh, a Sunni prisoner in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr prison, started a hunger strike on July 17th to protest his inadequate medical care and the prison’s denial of his access to a clinic. Despite developing asthenia and severe weight loss as of the fifteenth day of his strike, prison authorities continue to ignore his pleas.

His poor health condition has been repeatedly reported on, and in March, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. His condition has deteriorated to the point that he struggles to speak and breathe.

Abasteh is married with two children. He was arrested in early 2010 and sent to solitary confinement in Urmia Prison, which is run by the Ministry of Intelligence. He spent eight months there before being transferred to Evin Prison, where he spent six months in the solitary cells of wards 240 and 209. After 14 months, he spent another 20 days in Ward 350 of Evin before finally being transferred to Rajai Shahr on April 8, 2012.

He faces charges such as “militant activity”, accused of backing Salafi groups. He denied such involvement, saying the charges are baseless.

He has been awaiting trial since his 2016 prison sentence from Judge Moghiseh was nullified. He has thus far spent eight years in prison without due process.

Saman Rahmani

Saman Rahmani, a prisoner in the Health Ward of Saqez Prison, is on the verge of losing his arms after suffering an injury, yet continues to be denied the rights of furlough and access to a clinic. He started a hunger strike on July 20th in protest.
“Rahmani was to be sent to Karaj’s Rajai Shahr prison for care, but prison authorities changed their minds,” a credible source told HRANA.

When authorities promised him medical care earlier this year, he stopped the hunger strike he had started in June for the same reasons.

Farshid Nasseri Prisoner of conscience

Sunni prisoner Farshid Nasseri of Rajai Shahr started a hunger strike on June 16th to demand his right to furlough. Twenty-eight days later, his condition had severely deteriorated. He suffers from back and neck problems, in addition to psychological issues stemming from his years spent in prison.

Verya Saed Moochashmi

On August 19th, on orders from a Ward chief penalizing their refusal to end their hunger strike, five prisoners from Ward 3 of Rajai Shahr were beaten and sent to solitary confinement. They were reportedly striking to protest issues with their respective legal cases.

HRANA understands these prisoners to be Verya Saed Moochashmi, Hossein Esmaeili, Saeed Moradpour, Mojtaba Kounani, and Alireza Kounani. As of yesterday, August 27, 2018, Moochashmi is the sole among the group to continue the strike.

In 1998, Moochashmi, then 17, was sentenced to death and 80 lashings when he was convicted of aiding and abetting murder. He has so far served 21 years in prison.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Namegh Deldel, a Sunni prisoner of conscience detained in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr Prison (Hall 21 of Ward 7), has been on hunger strike since August 1, 2018, in protest to the lack of attention from authorities to his medical needs.

An informed source told HRANA: ”Mr Namegh Deldel has suffered from pain in his right thigh bone during the past seven months and was prevented from being sent to a hospital out of prison, which led him to begin a hunger strike.”

In July 2015, HRANA had reported on a 10-year prison sentence term which was issued by Irans Judiciary to Mr Deldel.

Namegh Deldel was previously imprisoned for three years in Rajai Shahr. After his release on April 18, 2014, he was arrested again in Bukan and eventually transferred to Ward 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, a section of the prison under the control of Ian’s Ministry of Intelligence, and then to Hall 21 of Ward 7 in Rajai Shahr Prison.

HRANA News Agency – There are more than 70 Sunni prisoners kept in Rajaei Shahr prison with political-security charges, 42 of whom are imprisoned with the sentences between 5 to 20 years and are being kept in hall number 21 of ward number 7, and at least 30 prisoners with death sentences who are kept in hall number 10 of ward 4 of the prison.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), more than 70 Sunni prisoners are kept in Rajaei Shahr prison with security and political allegations and have received their sentences under sacrilege charge. These prisoners are usually residents of western parts of Iran and are kept kilometers far from their hometown. (more…)

HRANA News Agency – Namegh Deldel, a Sunni citizen of Boukan, held in ward 209 of Evin prison, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Moghiseh, sentenced Namegh Deldel to 10 years imprisonment in the primitive stage. (more…)

HRANA News Agency – After more than fifteen months of detention, Namegh Deldel, a citizen of Boukan is still held in ward 209 of Evin prison.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Namegh Deldel who had been previously imprisoned for 3 years in Rajai Shahr prison, after being released on 18th April 2014 was arrested again in Boukan and later was transferred to ward 209 of Evin Prison. (more…)